Seven candidates are running for four open seats on Clarkston Board of Education, Nov. 6.
Theresa Adriaens has lived in Springfield Township for more than 13 years. She and her husband of 16 years, Steve, have three children, all attending Clarkston Community Schools – Megan, 7th grade, Sashabaw Middle School, Jason, 5th grade, and Kevin, 2nd grade, both at Springfield Plains Elementary.
She has a BBA in Computer Information Systems from Walsh College and aMBA in Operations Management, Lawrence Technological University
During the past seven years, she has has volunteered in her children’s classrooms.
“This has enabled me to understand firsthand the needs of the children and teachers in Clarkston,” she said.
In 2009, she utilized my IT skills to help teachers by publishing a book, Master the MEAP, 4th grade, and the book is used today by several SPE teachers.
“The current board members are divided on key issues involving the lives of the Clarkston School District staff and students,” she said. “It is time that newly elected board members bring some harmony to the board so that issues can be addressed and progress can be made for making the district better for all involved. I am committed to Building A Better Tomorrow for ALL of Clarkston Community Schools.”
Her occupation as a Senior Information Technology (IT) Project Manager, will be invaluable, she said.
“I have 25 years of experience in planning, developing, and implementing state-of-the-art IT solutions that helped facilitate process improvements that lead to corporate growth,” she said. “I have managed project budgets ranging from $50K to $10B. As a Project Manager it is imperative to implement only those projects that will provide value to the organization and provide at least a 10% Return on Investment. These same principles apply to the Clarkston Community School District.”
As a new board member, it is imperative that the seven members gain consensus and prioritize the top goals of the district while fulfilling the district’s mission, she said.
Regarding the board communication policy and funneling information through the board president, “A single contact person for board communications is important so that it can be distributed to the entire board for each person’s review,” she said.
Viewpoints on the following:
Budget cuts: There are two main areas that have significantly decreased the school funds budget. First, 17.3% of school aid is from Michigan’s Income Tax. Michigan’s August 2012 unemployment rate is 9.4% and the federal national unemployment rate is 8.1%1. This has a direct impact on funding available for schools as less people are working and contributing to this school district funding source.
Second, 14.2% of school aid is obtained from the 6-mill property tax. During the last four years each Michigan homeowner has seen their property value significantly decrease in value and thus this has also had a direct impact on school funding. This is the reality for all Michigan public schools and the newly elected board must be creative to fund more programs with less money.
The 2012 $20 million bond: The Clarkston School District needs to implement more technology in the classroom so that the students can be competitive in the job market upon graduating from college and also allow the CCS district to be as competitive with other neighboring school districts.
District transparency: I have learned a great deal by reviewing the financial information for our district that has been published by the current CCS administration. This allows current Clarkston residents to review the up-to-date information on many topics within the district.
State wide School of Choice: I am strongly opposed to allowing a state wide school of choice. My family intentionally moved from another Oakland County city in 1998 so our children could attend Clarkston Community Schools.
Charter Schools: I am strongly opposed to lifting the restrictions on the number of charter schools within the state.
Any additional thoughts? I am committed to Building A Better Tomorrow for ALL of Clarkston Community Schools.

Craig Hamilton decided to run for the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education for his two sons.
“I think Clarkston has an excellent school district and I want to make sure it stays that way,” he added. “I want to make sure I do my part. I am lucky enough that my business is here. I have a little bit of free time to give back to the community and do this.”
Hamilton has attended Clarkston Community Schools since he was in fifth grade, when his parents moved to the area. He graduated from Clarkston High School in 1995.
He added he thinks it helps he went to schools in Clarkston.
“I know the community and big part of community for so long,” he said. “It gives you a better view. I pretty much grew up in area and went to a few football games but didn’t have a whole lot of involvement in the schools.”
He continued his education at University of Michigan with a double major in microbiology and molecular chemistry before going to Oakland University and getting his master’s degree in chemisty.
He worked for DOW Chemical before starting Precision Testing Laboratories in Independence Township, which he is owner and a chemist. They do drug, alcohol and DNA testing.
He is married to Melissa and they have two young sons at ages three and one. After having kids he paid more attention to what was going on in the district.
“Recently I have been talking with people,” Hamilton added. “I am getting an idea of what is going on in the school district and what people want even without me saying I am running for school board.”
He wants to help the community but doesn’t plan to change a lot going on.
“I am not going to get on the board and re-invent the wheel,” he explained. “They are doing great as it is. I am obviously going to listen to who I can in the time I have. I also bring a younger perspective to the board plus having the two young boys gives me a different perspective as well.”
Hamilton has attended board meetings since June and has watched them online before June. He has noticed the split votes between the members.
“The nice thing is haven’t been around ? I am not on one side or another,” he said. “I am not going to be.”
His experience in college helped him view high school differently. Though he would go back and do things differently he understands college isn’t for everyone.
“You can’t change everything in the school district to cater towards college,” he added. “There are other people who don’t have an interest in college. You have to gear towards them as well.”
Viewpoints on the following:
Budget cuts: Hopefully we don’t have to make them. I think a burden shouldn’t be shared by a group it should be shared by everybody. One and two groups shouldn’t be getting cuts and losing benefits while another gets raises. It’s not how I want to do things. For class sizes, would love to have 20 students in a class but there is only so much money to go around and only so many people you can hire. You have to do with what you have to do. There is a contractional standpoint on how many in a classroom and you do want them as low as you can get them. There are a lot of ways to get funded like DonorsChoose.org. Teachers write a proposal for a project and try to get funding from people. Some programs do matching funds. Even little things add up
The 2012 $20 million bond: I was very disappointed they had the vote in May in an election that was paid by the taxpayers. It was bad timing to ask for that much money from the community. People are unemployed or underemployed and to do a bond that will cost $200 a year for average home of Clarkston. It is a lot of money.
District transparency: From what I have gathered the district needs to be more transparent. We are not guarding trade secrets. I don’t know what has been asked for and what hasn’t but I am guessing it is a matter of public record anyways. I t should be more easily accessible. If there are items pertaining to students then it is a different story. If budgetary then no reason it should be a hassle to get the information. If it is taking away from the staff’s job then maybe something needs to be looked into it.
State wide School of Choice: I am very against it. Clarkston is a community and has an identity. I like that identity. I grew up here, I stayed here and it’s the reason I want to raise my kids here. Additionally Clarkston residents have paid taxes for the building improvements to make sure our kids have nice facilities and better teachers. There are school of choice programs and gives us opportunity to offer things to the students we wouldn’t be able to do or not have enough students to offer.
Charter Schools: It would have to be case by case. They would have to present a case there is a need to open under our umbrella in the Clarkston school district which I think would be tough to do because I think Clarkston does an outstanding job.

Kelli Horst is running to fill a need.
“I believe the school board needs a parent perspective, one that is informed by seven years of volunteer leadership in our schools and an absolute conviction in the value and importance of public education,” she said.
She and her husband, Scott, have been married 14 years and have two sons, both Clarkston students.
“I want to be part of creating a positive environment at the board level so all who participate in educating our students ? parents, teachers, administrators and board members ? feel respected, appreciated and valued,” Horst said. “To accomplish that, we need at the board level a renewed spirit and commitment to the democratic process, including healthy debate, respectful disagreement and a willingness to work toward consensus.”
She has worked in communications and marketing for 23 years, currently as a consultant in higher education
She started volunteering at Clarkston schools when her children became students, serving on the superintendent’s Parent Advisory Team and the district’s transportation committee; a two-year stint as PTA president at Springfield Plains Elementary; and the last two years as president of the Clarkston PTA Council.
Excellent public schools are necessary for Clarkston to continue to be attractive to new residents and businesses. Consensus can be 4-3, if everyone at table feels frespected and heard, she said.
“Then they can live with and support whatever compromise is reached in the end,” she said. “That to me is what conseus is about.”
Regarding the communications policy, “once consensus is reached and a decision is made, I think there should be one spokesperson for that decision,” she said. “I don’t think it means that everyone else can’t talk about their perspective, she said. “I don’t think it means that everyone else can’t talk about their perspective. I don’t think it would be nearly as much of an issue or a controversy if the process I described before happened.”
The school distict is Clarkston’s largest employer, she said.
‘For us to be attractive to residents and businesses, we have to have that trust, that confidence in our public school system,” she said. “We already have a great school system, but we have to continually build that symbiotic relationship between school and community.”
Viewpoints on the following:
District transparency:
“It’s certainly evolved tremendously in the last few years,” said Horst, who has served on parent advisory teams with superintendents Al Roberts and Dr. Rod Rock. “Overall, there’s much more transparency in the district than in the past.”
Budget cuts:
“I’m a huge believer in education. It’s one thing that has to continue to improve to keep pace with society,” she said. “We’re funded now at 2005 levels. That’s unacceptable. We all understand what the economy is doing, and we’re very realistic about it. We’re very judicious with resouces, but what message does the state send when education is what they’re going to cut so significantly?”
The district is given a certain amount of money, and its responsible for spending that amount of money on kids. When it keeps going down and down, eventually something is going to break, she said.
“What I want in the end is people sitting at that table who understand how complex it is, and who feel as passionate about education as I do. I want to be responsible with tax dollars. I pay taxes. But this is one thing on the list that needs to continue to improve. How do you do that when cuts come year after year,” she said.
Charter Schools:
Charter schools are not relevant in Clarkston, she said.
“I don’t see where need for it here,” she said. “Other districts have failing schools due to their socio-econonic situations, and there, charters should be given a chance, but they’re not needed in Clarkston.?
The 2012 $20 million bond:
Horst advocated for the bond as a member of Clarkston Kids First.
“I’m proud to have fought for it,” she said. “Education has to continue to improve and keep pace with society.”
The community spoke, though.
“I respect the process ? it needed the blessing of the community, and the community said ‘no thank you.’ I’m absolutely fine with that.”